No room in C: Drive anymore, tried changing letters.


  1. fudgestix
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       New #1

    No room in C: Drive anymore, tried changing letters.


    My C: drive only has 45.4GB TOTAL. While I have two other drives, D(has 2TB) and E(has 500GB).

    My problem is, everything is installing into C drive automatically. How do I change this?
    - I tried switching the drive letters but there's always the "Parameter is incorrect" error(probably because they run the computer).
    -Tried going to regedit and editing microsoft\windows\currentversion\programfilesdir (also tried editing other files but I attempted to install a program, did not change the installation directory)

    What do I do? I can't install any program that automatically installs into C drive (for example skype).
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  3. seavixen32
    Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       New #2

    Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

    Please post a screenshot of your expanded disk management layout so that we can give you best advice.

    Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

    Generally speaking, if you choose the custom option rather than the default option when installing software, you should have the chance to decide where you want to install it.
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  4. fudgestix
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #3


    Many installers don't even have the custom option, for example the printer I'm trying to install. Tried exploring the installer, there's no option for where the installation directory goes.
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  6. Hipster Doofus
    Posts : 475
    Windows 7 Pro x64 -- PCLinuxOS KDE4 FullMonty 2011
       New #4

    On a drive that size you must start using the custom install method straight away to make room for those programs that have no custom install option.

    A fresh install of windows 7 pro x64 takes about 22.5gb so you will have plenty of room.
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  7. scrooge
    Posts : 627
    win 7 ( 64 bit)
       New #5

    if you don't use the (hibernate) you can disable it . also you can move your restore point to another drive. between he 2 it will free up a little space for you .



    scrooge
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  8. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #6

    Have you considered recovering the 14gb for Recovery Partition after making the Recovery Disks? Many tech enthusiasts would never consider Factory Recovery anyway because of all the corrupting bloatware and useless utlilities which have much better versions built into Win7.

    You could even clean reinstall while deleting all partitions to get a much leaner install, then link your files to another HD: User Folders - Change Default Location

    Here are tips for getting a perfect clean reinstall of factory OEM: Reinstalling Windows 7

    We could also help you recover the 1st partition and 100mb System Reserved partition boot files into C to recoup some space.

    The installation directories set up by many large programs in C: are temp files that can be removed after Custom install to another chosen location besides Program Files.
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  10. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #7

    Is this an SSD?

    I agree with Greg. Get rid of the recovery partition and even the 100MB system partition after moving the bootmgr (two clicks with EasyBCD). Then extend C using the bootable CD of Partition Wizard. But if that is an SSD, you have to realign it - that's why I asked the question.

    You should also make an image of your system in case you ever have to reinstall.
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  11. fudgestix
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Hmm forgot to mention I also have windows 7 on my E drive. Which is why I wanted to switch and make E the main drive by switching the letters, but it doesn't work.

    And yes it's an SSD. What do you mean by get rid of the recovery partition? Delete or wipe it?
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  12. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #9

    You must have installed Win7 from C to E so that it locked out the letter C and you aren't able to have the modern convenience that Win7 provides of always seeing itself as C when booted. In the future always boot the installer to correctly clean install an OS.

    You can never change drive letters of an OS as it will always kill it.

    What is it you would like to do exactly now?
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  13. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       New #10

    fudgestix said:
    Hmm forgot to mention I also have windows 7 on my E drive. Which is why I wanted to switch and make E the main drive by switching the letters, but it doesn't work.

    And yes it's an SSD. What do you mean by get rid of the recovery partition? Delete or wipe it?
    If you want to do the job right, do the following

    1. Move the bootmgr from the 100MB partition to C: - use EasyBCD

    2. Make an image of C: with either free Macrium or free Paragon - do not use windows7 imaging

    3. Delete the recovery partition and the 100MB partition in disk management or with the bootable CD of Partition Wizard

    4. Extend C: to the left with the bootable CD of Partition Wizard. Use the Move/Resize buttom after highlighting C:

    5. Realign your SSD - SSD - Fix Misalignment

    6. Restore your image.

    PS: and why would you want to have the system on the much slower HDD
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